Agenda item

It was moved by Councillor Cox, seconded by Councillor Mrs Blackmore, that the recommendations of the Policy and Resources Committee relating to the Medium Term Financial Strategy and budget proposals 2020/21 be approved.

Amendment moved by Councillor McKay, seconded by Councillor Perry, that the recommendations of the Policy and Resources Committee relating to the Medium Term Financial Strategy and Budget Proposals 2020/21 be approved subject to the addition of the following:

18.  That it be noted that the Policy and Resources Committee has agreed that any unused Members’ Community Grants for 2019/20 and the first call on any other unused resources from 2019/20 be used to create a one-off provision for Members’ Grants of up to £750 for each Councillor for use in 2020/21.

19.  That a further £13,750 be allocated from 2019/20 unused resources to the extent that these are available from the budget surplus, being a further £250 per Councillor, to bring the Members’ Community Grant to up to £1,000 per Councillor on a one-off basis for 2020/21.

AMENDMENT CARRIED

The substantive motion was then put to the vote in two parts.  Firstly, recommendations 1-17 and secondly, recommendations 18-19.

As a consequence of the Local Authorities (Standing Orders) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2014, a named vote was taken on each part of the substantive motion as follows:

Recommendations 1-17

FOR (44)

Councillors Adkinson, Mrs Blackmore, Brice, Brindle, D Burton,

M Burton, Chappell-Tay, Clark, Cox, Cuming, Daley, English, Eves, Fermor, Fissenden, Fort, Garland, Garten, Mrs Gooch, Mrs Grigg, Harper, Harvey, Harwood, Hastie, Mrs Joy, Khadka, Kimmance, Lewins, McKay, Mortimer, Munford, Naghi, Newton, Parfitt-Reid, Perry, Mrs Ring, Mrs Robertson, D Rose, Round, Spooner, Springett, Vizzard, Webb and Young

AGAINST (3)

Councillors Powell, J Sams and T Sams

ABSTENTIONS (0)

SUBSTANTIVE MOTION (PART 1) CARRIED

Recommendations 18-19

FOR (38)

Councillors Adkinson, Brice, Chappell-Tay, Clark, Cox, Cuming, Daley, English, Fermor, Fissenden, Fort, Garland, Garten, Mrs Grigg, Harper, Harvey, Harwood, Hastie, Mrs Joy, Khadka, Kimmance, Lewins, McKay, Mortimer, Munford, Naghi, Parfitt-Reid, Perry, Powell, Mrs Robertson, Round, J Sams, T Sams, Spooner, Springett, Vizzard, Webb and Young

AGAINST (9)

Councillors Mr Blackmore, Brindle, D Burton, M Burton, Eves, Mrs Gooch, Newton, Mrs Ring and D Rose

ABSTENTIONS (0)

SUBSTANTIVE MOTION (PART 2) CARRIED

RESOLVED:

1.  That the revised Revenue Estimates for 2019/20, as set out in Appendix A to the report of the Policy and Resources Committee, be agreed.

2.  That the minimum level of General Fund Balances be set at £2 million for 2020/21.

3.  That the Strategic Revenue Projection, as set out in Appendix A to the report of the Policy and Resources Committee, be endorsed as the basis for future financial planning. 

4.  That the proposed Council Tax of £265.59 at Band D for 2020/21 be agreed. 

5.  That the Revenue Estimates for 2020/21, as set out in Appendix A to the report of the Policy and Resources Committee, be agreed. 

6.  That the Statement of Earmarked Reserves and General Fund Balances, as set out in Appendix A to the report of the Policy and Resources Committee, be agreed. 

7.  That the funding of the Capital Programme, as set out in Appendix A to the report of the Policy and Resources Committee, be agreed. 

8.  That the Capital Programme, as set out in Appendix A to the report of the Policy and Resources Committee, be agreed. 

9.  That the Medium Term Financial Strategy, as set out in Appendix A to the report of the Policy and Resources Committee, be agreed.

10.  That the Treasury Management, Investment and Capital Strategies, as set out within Appendix A to the report of the Policy and Resources Committee, be agreed.

11.  That it be noted that the Council’s Council Tax base for the year 2020/21 has been calculated as 63,319.8 in accordance with Regulation 3 of the Local Authorities (Calculation of Council Tax Base) regulations 1992. 

12.  That it be noted that in accordance with Government guidance the yield from business rates has been calculated as £57,316,553. 

13.  That it be noted that the individual parish area tax bases set out in Appendix B are calculated in accordance with Regulation 6 of the Regulations and are the amounts of the Council Tax Base for the year for dwellings in those parts of the Council’s area to which a special item relates. 

14.  That the Council Tax requirement for the Council’s own purposes for 2020/21 (excluding parish precepts) is £16,817,106. 

15.  That the following amounts now be calculated by the Council for the year 2020/21 in accordance with Section 32-36 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 as amended by the Localism Act 2011:- 

16.  That it be noted that for the year 2020/21 Kent County Council, the Kent Police & Crime Commissioner and the Kent & Medway Fire & Rescue Authority have stated the following amounts in precepts issued to the Council, in accordance with Section 40 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, for each of the categories of dwellings shown below:- 

17.  That, having calculated the aggregate in each case of the amounts at 15 (d), and 16 above, the Council, in accordance with Section 30 (2) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, hereby sets out in Appendix C, the amounts of Council Tax for the year 2020/21 for each of the categories of dwellings shown.

18.  That it be noted that the Policy and Resources Committee has agreed that any unused Members’ Community Grants for 2019/20 and the first call on any other unused resources from 2019/20 be used to create a one-off provision for Members’ Grants of up to £750 for each Councillor for use in 2020/21.

19.  That a further £13,750 be allocated from 2019/20 unused resources to the extent that these are available from the budget surplus, being a further £250 per Councillor, to bring the Members’ Community Grant to up to £1,000 per Councillor on a one-off basis for 2020/21.